Page 155 - Off The Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 2 of 2)

323

CITIES

ABOVE The richly decorated gateway to Hien Lam Cac temple within the Imperial City of Hue Citadel
RIGHT Chinese fishing nets looming over the water in Cochin like vast spiders perched upon their webs

HUE, VIETNAM Looking at the grand illuminated Ngo Mon Gate at night, it’s hard to COCHIN, INDIA Cochin (also known as Kochi) is a melting pot of the many colonial
imagine the battering Hue Citadel received during the Vietnam War. Home of emperors cultures that have flourished in Kerala. There’s a fascinating Jewish quarter and an English
from the mid-18th century until the end of World War I, its jumble of knocked-about village green, as well as Portuguese and Dutch mansions and palaces. Keralan culture is
monuments is still an impressive sight. Utterly tranquil now beside the Song Huong vibrant and there are plenty of chances to see colorful Kathakali theater and dance.
(Perfume River), the fortified citadel of the old imperial capital has quiet streets that are Ferries ply the lovely harbor, allowing you to discover the many facets of the city’s
easy to find your way around. Better-preserved are the tombs of the emperors, which lie peninsulas and islands. Go for a tour of the tranquil backwaters in an elegant wicker
in temples, palaces, and lakes to the south of the city. A sampan will take you there. rice boat and see traditional life continuing along the banks (see p157).

SOZOPOL, BULGARIA Stuck out in the LUANG PRABANG, LAOS Set on the Mekong River, the former royal capital of Laos is
Black Sea like a crab’s claw, Sozopol is more like a village than a city, its traffic largely two-wheeled and often unmotorized.
Bulgaria’s main fishing port. Life carries on Buddhism is the dominant religion, and more than two dozen temples are home to around
much as always in the cobbled streets and a thousand monks. Rise at dawn to watch them pass by, taking food offered by the
wooden houses, though the arrival of community, their only meal of the day. The city is pleasantly warm all year round, and much
tourists (and Hollywood stars fleeing the of life is lived outdoors. The night market is a daily highlight. Take a trip on a long-tailed
limelight) is bound to lead to changes. boat up the river to find further Buddhist sites, including the Pak Ou Caves (see p39).

LECCE, ITALY If you stumble on Lecce by DARWIN, AUSTRALIA Most visitors to ALEPPO, SYRIA This is one of the oldest
chance, you’re in for a shock. In the poor, Darwin are en route to the nearby cities in the world – and it feels like it.
dry lands of Italy’s “heel,” this Baroque city Kakadu and Lichfield national parks, but Among its crumbling, sun-baked
erupts like a volcano out of the sea. Many this energetic and cosmopolitan city has buildings is a wonderful souk surrounding
façades are enriched with the lace-like attractions of its own that are well worth the Great Mosque and ancient warehouses,
patterns of the decorative Lecce Baroque seeking out. Take in the ocean views at which were used by merchants on this
style and look especially enchanting at Cullen and Fannie bays. Shop for classy important stop on the Silk Road. At its
night. Enclosed in a city wall, with a lively Aboriginal crafts. And if you fancy a beer, center is the Citadel, where the beautiful
street life, this former Roman town is the you’re in the right place – the city’s Ayyubid Palace and Mameluke Throne
most exuberant in southern Italy. alcohol consumption is notorious. Room hint at the wealth of the past.

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, USA There THESSALONIKI, GREECE With snowy SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Most visitors SHIRAZ, IRAN This beautiful city lies on
is a sizeable artistic community in the Mount Olympus gazing down across the to Siem Reap are here to see the great high ground, which keeps its temperatures
picturesque old Spanish town of Santa bay, Thessaloniki could not be better sited. Khmer enclave of Angkor Wat and the moderate. It’s a university town and has
Fe, which lies in a green valley within Greece’s ancient second city is a well- scores of surrounding temples. But the wide avenues shaded by trees. Many of
sight of the ski slopes of the Sangre de turned-out town, with buzzing cafés, bars, town is worthy of appreciation, too. It the mosques, monuments, and splendid
Cristo range. Clear blue skies give the air and restaurants. Wonderful Byzantine started to boom when the temples were gardens were either built or restored in
a brilliant clarity, and it’s warm all year churches have survived wars, earthquakes, discovered in the early 20th century. The the 18th century, when it was the Iranian
round. Creative Native Americans were occupations, and a devastating fire, and colonial architecture and Chinese-style capital, and take a good few days to
here first, and buyers come from all over the golden treasures of the tomb of buildings make it an attractive place. Take explore. Within striking distance are the
the world for the Indian Market in August. Philip of Macedon are not far away. home local silks from the market. magnificent ruins of Persepolis (see p44).

US322-323_cit_misc1 .indd 323 24/3/09 10:17:09
322-323_cit_misc1.indd 323
16/4/09 12:36:02